He may now live in the Hollywood hills and star in one of America’s biggest TV successes of the year but Andrew Howard still finds time to keep up with his beloved Bluebirds.

The Cardiff actor will be seen on our TV screens next week starring alongside Kevin Costner in the acclaimed mini-series Hatfields & McCoys.

Set during the Civil War it tells the real-life story of two feuding families. When it was screened in the US earlier this year it drew in an average 14 million viewers and last month won five categories at the coveted Emmy Awards, TV’s answer to the Oscars.

But while his career may be soaring in LA, thoughts of home are never far away for the down-to-earth Welshman.

The lifelong Cardiff City supporter and Welsh rugby fan keeps up with the sports results by logging onto the internet after every match.

“The first result I look for on a Saturday is the Bluebirds. I think we’ll definitely do it this season and get up there [the Premiereship],” he says.

So what did he think when Cardiff City’s Malaysian owners recently changed the team’s shirts from blue to red in a bid to make them more marketable in Asia?

“I thought it was preposterous but people will get used to it. Time will heal. I still love them. I’m a Bluebird through and through.”